Liesel's Dress

Have you seen the movie, The Sound of Music, starring Julie Andrews? If so, you know the scene I'm about to describe...

Liesel, the oldest of the von Trapp family children, manages to sneak away from the dinner table to meet her beau, Rolf, in the gazebo. Upon meeting, their dialogue turns to song. "I am sixteen going on seventeen....lalalalalalala...." They dance around the gazebo, sashaying on benches and twirling about...

Well, that's the dress I want. Yes, it's true.

Since I was a young girl, I loved that movie...and that has always been my favorite scene...due in no small part to that amazing, twirling, ethereal dress!

I've been saying for years that I want a wedding dress with sleeves, but not your typical lace sleeves, though some kind of bell shape might be nice...but that I don't necessarily want long sleeves because I don't want to be too warm...lol. Well, these sleeves fit the bill.

There are only three changes I'd make to the dress:

1. I want it in gold (not the pale pink). I will not wear white or ivory at my wedding, so gold it is.

2. I want to extend the length of the dress so it just skims the floor. Ahhh...how pretty...

3. If possible, I want to add just a bit more space between each ribbon on the bodice. The first right under my bust, but the last closer to my hips, rather than my natural waist, thus creating more space between the first and middle, and middle and third.

Now, I won't be able to find this dress on a rack or in a bridal store, obviously...but I do have some options.

I can always find a seamstress to make it, which, I know, can get expensive. I do have two courses of action I can take before that, though.

My MoH's mother can sew. She may not agree to do it. It depends on whether or not she thinks she has the ability. If so, I will buy the fabric and pay her whatever she deems reasonable for the job.

If that option doesn't work out for me, I have one more...longshot. My sister-in-law could sew sew sew...she really had talent. Unfortunately, she passed away a long time ago. However, her mother is still alive...and that's where she learned how to sew. If I can get in touch with her, I know she can create this dress. If she's willing, I would, again, buy all the materials and pay her for it.

If those options fail, then I start seeing about a seamstress.

I was told that the material I need isn't too expensive, but that the dress requires A LOT of fabric.

I'm trying not to get my hopes up about this. I am aware that I may encounter a lot of obstacles in having this dress made for me. At the same time, I am feeling a bit relieved. I was getting so overwhelmed with the idea of a wedding dress. There are too many options, but at the same time, they all look alike to me. Maybe it's because I viewed too many.

Part of me wants to wait to look into this because of my weight. I'm still dropping pounds, and I'd like to be my goal weight for my wedding. I can't wait too long, though, because it is going to take time to A) find someone to make it and B) actually make it.

I think I'll give it until October. That still gives me an entire year. If I drop all the weight I want to lose before then, great! If not, oh well. I'll maintain where I'm at at that point in time.

Backed Off? Not completely...

I was talking to my *bff* MK today about backing off some of the wedding obsession I've had lately. I feel like I've done all I can do at this point. There isn't really much left to say about it at this point. Even if I were actually engaged, I couldn't do much right now. Sure, we could book a venue and DJ and stuff, but beyond that, it's terribly far ahead for me to really do much, especially about a dress.

Yet, here I am, still typing away about all this!

I think that's going to be my biggest obstacle...the dress. The rest of it is "easy." I know what kind of wedding I want. I don't know what kind of dress I want anymore. Sure, I've posted pictures about dresses that I really like, but after having tried a few on, I feel lost. I have a few requirements for my dress, but an exact idea just isn't there. Also, my size and my hair make it difficult for me to get excited about it. I'm not happy about the way I look. How can I be happy about the way I'll look in a wedding dress. At least I can narrow down my choices...those few requirements I have should help when the time comes to shop. I even have some requirements about shoes and accessories. What are they, you ask?

Color:
The dress must be either champagne or gold. No ivory, as I've discovered that ivory is still too white for my personal taste.

Neckline:
I really really really don't know about this. I love the portrait necklines. I think they are so classic and pretty, but I also like strapless dresses. I know I don't want a high neckline or a sweetheart neckline.

Sleeves:
I either want long sleeves (in the form of a jacket) or none at all...

Shape:
Originally I thought it had to be an A-line. Now, I think I could do either an A-line or a ballgown, as long as the ballgown isn't too outrageously poofy!

Train:
No train! Or at least a very very short train that can be bustled easily.

Headpiece and veil:
NO VEILS WHATSOEVER!!! Can I make that any clearer? LOL
Headpiece should be a delicate tiara in a gold tone with offwhite pearls and maybe some colored beads.

Shoes:
Gold and inexpensive. I can't see spending a bunch of money on shoes that will hardly be noticed under my dress.
Slippers for reception dancing after all the formalities are finished.

Jewelery:
Depending on my neckline, I may go with a simple necklace to match my tiara.
If I go sleeveless, I'd like to wear an antique bracelet that was my grandmother's. My cousin has the matching one. I might ask if that can be my "something borrowed."

Hair:
I've decided already on a 1940s style. I have a picture of a New Year's Eve where I wore a "pageboy" style. My hair looked awesome that night! Hehehe. I might do that, or maybe one of the other popular styles from the time that sweep the hair back loosely.

I wish I had more artistic talents so I could sketch some dresses that I'd like!

So yeah, my point is that I have not backed off completely, just that sometimes I don't know what to say about it. Also, I'm glad I have a bit better idea about what I want from a dress.

I have more to write, but I'm going to do so in a different post because this one is long enough!

BIG Dresses!!!

I tried on a few dresses this weekend! Yikes! I've gotten BIG!!! Much bigger than I thought I was. When I saw the dress size I was in and how I looked in the dresses, I wanted to cry. It was not a fun experience at all. I know most wedding gowns run small, but that doesn't change the way I actually look. Whether they called the size a 6 or a 26, I looked big.

It's time I stop whining about my weight and do something about it. I've had a lot of failed attempts in the past, and it's usually because I give up. I don't want to be big on my wedding day. I want to be a beautiful bride. Then, I want to remain beautiful for J. He loves me the way I am. It's funny, but he honestly doesn't see me as big or fat. He just sees me and loves me. I love that about him, but wouldn't it be great if he could have a really hot wife!? :)

I started another blog to help me with my weight loss goals. Check it out. http://bulgingbride.blogspot.com/

The Dress?

I found a dress that I absolutely adore. The pictures are copyrighted, so I can't post them here. You can follow this link to see it. It's a champagne color with a bronze and gold organza sash across the front that billows out in the skirt.

Unfortunately, I'm afraid to order online, and that seems to be the only way to get it. The other bonus is that it's only around $450...right in my budget. I'm afraid of ordering the gown to find it's crap material and shoddy workmanship. Once received, I have only three days to decide whether or not to return it or keep it. I don't know if that's enough time for me. I worry that if I wait too long, it may not be available if/when I decide I want it.

OMG OMG OMG...forget that dress...ok, don't forget it, but LOOK AT THIS!!!
This is a Maggie Sottero dress (style: Suzanne) and it is perfect. I love love love this dress. I actually cried when I discovered it is nowhere near my budget. The lowest price I've encounterd is $1,458.oo. I need to find a way to get this gown...